Pocahontas County History Preservation, Digitization, Community

Jacob Marlin and Stephen Sewall, p. 105, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

The first persons of English or Scotch-Irish antecedents to spend a winter in what is now Pocahontas County, were Marlin and Sewall. This was the winter of 1750-51. Their camp was in the delta formed by Marlin Run and a slough or drain near the east bank of Knapp's Creek.

In the course of time--having agreed to disagree--they separated and were found living apart, by Colonel Andrew Lewis, Marlin in the cabin and Sewall in a hollow tree. Upon expressing his surprise at this way of living apart, distant from the habitation of other human beings, Sewall told him they differed in sentiments and since the separation there was more tranquility, or a better understanding, for now they were upon speaking terms, and upon each morning "it was good morning, Mr Marlin, and 'Good morning, Mr Sewall!'"

Under the new arrangement, Sewall crossed the slough, and instead of building another cabin, went into a hollow sycamore tree on the west margin of the slough, quite near where the board walk now crosses, and about in line with a walnut tree now standing on the east bank of the drain and the court house.

Reuben Bussard p. 538, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Reuben Bussard, the progenitor of the Bussards, was the son of an emigrant from Germany, who settled at an early day near Lancaster, Penn. Upon his marriage with a Miss Sicafoose, in Pendleton County, he settled on lands now in possession of his descendants near Glade Hill, or rather between Glade Hill and Frost. These early settlers were the parents of five sons and four daughters, as we learned from Morgan Grimes, Esq., near Mount Zion. Susan, Fannie, Hester, and Martha were their daughters. The sons were Eli, Solomon, Henry, Reuben, and Sampson.

Fannie Bussard was married to Benjamin Bussard and lived in Greenbrier County.

Hester Bussard became Mrs Henry Grimes and lived in the Hills.

Martha Bussard was married to Charles Grimes, and lived in the Hills near Mount Zion.

Eli Bussard married Margaret Moore and settled on a part of the home place, now occupied by his son Armenius. In reference to their family the following particulars are given:

Arminius Bussard married Frances Kelley and settled near Glade Hill. He was a Union soldier, a member of Company D, 10th West Virginia Infantry.

Morgan Bussard married Rhoda Simms, daughter of John Simms from Pendleton County. Their children are Sherman, Ellis, Perry Lee, Cora, now Mrs William Shinneberry near Driftwood, and Alcinda, who was married to Embry Shinneberry near Clover Lick.

Abram Burner p. 426, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Abram Burner, the progenitor of the Burner relationship in our county, was from the lower Valley, probably Shenandoah County. Soon after his marriage with Mary Hull; of Highland County, he settled on the Upper Tract, early in the century. Their children were Mary, Elizabeth, George, Jacob, Adam, Henry, and Daniel.

Mary Burner became Mrs George Grimes and lived near Mount Zion, in the Hills.

Elizabeth Burner was married to Hon John Grimes, and lived in the Little Levels on the lands now owned by the county for an infirmary.

Jacob Burner married Keziah Stump, and settled in the western part of the State.

Adam burner married Margaret Gillespie, one of Jacob Gillespie's nine daughters at Greenbank, and settled in upper Pocahontas.

Daniel Burner married Jennie Gillespie, sister to Margaret. Daniel Burner was drowned near Peter Yeager's in a deep eddy, during harvest, and left one son, Joshua Burner. Henry Burner met his death by drowning in the east fork of Greenbrier.

George Burner, eldest son of Abram the pioneer, after his marriage with Sally, daughter of Andrew Warwick, settled on part of the Burner homestead where the road crosses the east prong of the Greenbrier. Their children were Andrew, Enoch, Allen, Lafayette, Lee, Charles, Nancy, who became Mrs William Wooddell; and Isabella, now Mrs Lanty Slaven.

David Bright p. 542, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Owing to numerous family affiliations in our county, some particulars in regard to the Bright connexion in Greenbrier are interesting to our readers.

David Bright came from Pennsylvania and was one of the pioneers of upper Greenbrier, and located on place now occupied by Andrew Brinkley and sons near Frankford. David's wife was a Miss Grant, also of Pennsylvania. Their sons were Michael, Jesse, David and George. There were two daughters, one of whom was named Mary.

Jesse Bright married Margaret Hamptenstall, and settled on the homestead and reared the family that has so many relations in Pocahontas County. His daughter Margaret was married to Joseph Callison, and went to Illinois. Mary Bright was married to Israel Callison, lived awhile in Pocahontas, then went to Illinois; and was still living at last accounts (in 1897.)

Rachel Bright became the wife of the late Joseph Levisay, near Frankford. Her son, G. W. Levisay, married Maggie Beard, youngest daughter of the late Josiah Beard of Locust, and located at Frankford, where he farms and merchandises. Josephine Levisay became Mrs Preston Clark of the Levels. Mary Levisay became Mrs F. I. Bell, and lives near Savannah Mills. Samuel Brown Levisay was one of the victims of the fearful boiler explosion that occurred in 1896 near Frankford. Jesse A., Letitia, Louella, and Elizabeth are the names of Mrs Levisay's other children.

John Bradshaw p. 505, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

In his day and generation one of the most conspicuous citizens of our county was John Bradshaw, Esq., of Huntersville. His residence was on the site now occupied by the "Lightner House" belonging to Amos Barlow. John Bradshaw was a native of England. Bradshaw is a historic name in England—as readers of English history readily remember—and so is the name Herold.

About 1760 two brothers, James and John Bradshaw came to America. James Bradshaw went to Kentucky to reside. John Bradshaw remained in Augusta County, Virginia, and married Miss Nancy McKamie, in the vicinity of Parnassus, and soon afterwards settled on the Bullpasture River, ten or eleven miles below McDowell, on property at this time owned by Franklin Bradshaw and the family of the late John Bradshaw, County Surveyor. Here he resided a number of years, and then early in the last century came to Huntersville. His family consisted of four sons and four daughters: Nancy, Elizabeth, Margaret, Jane, James, John, Thomas, and William.

James Bradshaw married Isabella Stevens of Greenbrier County, and settled on the old homestead. John and Franklin Bradshaw, well known citizens of Highland County, were his sons. Mrs Eveline Byrd, near Falling Spring, Greenbrier County, was a daughter. Captain R. H. Bradshaw, a gallant soldier who fell in the battle of Port Republic, was a grandson, and James Bradshaw of McDowell is also a grandson of James Bradshaw.

Robert Beale p. 495, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

About the year 1827 Robert Beale, of Botetourt County, Virginia, settled on Elk, a half mile southeast of the place where Mary's Chapel now stands. A bed of tansy near the roadside marks the spot where the residence stood. The house was built of hewn timbers and floored with plank sawn with the whip saw by hand, and was considered an excellent building at that time. His wife was Mary Vance Poage, daughter of Major William Poage and Nancy Warwick Poage, whose home was at Marlins Bottom. She was a lady of most excellent qualities of mind and heart. These worthy young people soon built up an attractive home in the forest, and they seemed fully contented with their surroundings. The neighborhood was called the Old Field Fork of Elk.

Mr Beale was very energetic and industrious, and while he owned servants, he worked with his own hands as laboriously as the humblest. It was believed he contracted his fatal illness at a log rolling.

The Sabbath days were mostly spent in prayer meetings and Sabbath school services with the families of David Gibson, David Hannah, and Joseph Hannah, their-near neighbors, and for the most part held in his own dwelling. Ministers of the gospel made his home their place of preaching. Dr McElhenney, Revs Kerr, William G. Campbell, pioneers of the Presbyterians in his region, officiated at his residence, and pleasant, profitable meetings were the result.

William Baxter p. 419, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Among the worthy citizens of our county deserving of special mention was William Baxter, near Edray, W. Va. He was born on Little Back Creek, in 1808. H e was the eldest son of Colonel John Baxter, whose name appears prominently in the early history of Pocahontas County. His mother was Mrs Mary Moore Baxter, a sister of Joseph Moore of Anthonys Creek. She was a very industrious and careful housekeeper, and diligently trained her children in habits of industry and economy. At an early age his parents moved to Pocahontas County, and resided a good many years at the Sulphur Spring. Being the eldest son, he worked hard in assisting to support the family, consisting of four sons and three daughters. His sisters were Mrs Jane Moore, wife of the late John Moore near Marlinton; Mrs Martha Duncan, wife of Henry Duncan, head of Stony Creek; and Mrs Sarah Duncan, wife of William Duncan, near Edray.

Mrs Baxter and three sons, Joseph, John, and George, finally located in Braxton County, where she died a few years thereafter. John died, too, soon after the removal to their new home. Joseph was a Federal soldier, and died of wounds in Kanawha County. George was a Confederate soldier, and died a prisoner of war somewhere in the State of New York.

James Tallman p. 486, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

Among the names identified with our county's history that of Tallman has figured prominently for more than a hundred years, and while there are scores of our citizens with Tallman blood in their veins, yet the name is borne by but few anymore; as so many have moved away to other counties and western States.

The Tallman relationship trace their ancestry to James Tallman, who was a native of Augusta County. His first marriage was with Nancy Crawford, of that county, and soon afterwards settled on property west of Greenbank, now held by Joseph Beard, the heirs of Adam Arbogast, and Dr Moomau. This must have been before the Revolution, as all the probabilities point to that conclusion. There were in the first family three sons and two daughters: Rachel, Rebecca, Benjamin, William, and Boone.

Rachel was married to Peter Hull, of Highland, who was a son of Adam Hull.

Rebecca was married to Reuben Slaven.

Benjamin Tallman married Elizabeth Warwick, and settled on property now owned by Captain Siple. The names of his children William, James, Robert, John, Cyrus, and Nancy, who became Mrs Benjamin Tallman (son of Boone) and lives in Illinois.

Benjamin Tallman was a colonel of the 127th regiment, a member of the court, represented the county in the Virginia House of Delegates, and was for many years a ruling elder in the Liberty Presbyterian church, and a justice of the peace.

Joseph Varner p. 327, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

The ancestor of the Varner relationship in our county was Joseph Varner. He came from Pendleton county very early in the century and settled on the Crooked Branch of Elk, on property now in possession of William A. McAllister. Mr Varner's parents, it is believed, came from Germany to Pennsylvania, thence to Pendleton, among the earliest settlers of that county.

The given names of these parents seemed to have been forgotten. The father lived to the age of 112 years and died in Pendleton. The widowed mother came to live with her son Joseph, on Elk, and died there, and her remains were buried near the home. Her reputed age was 114 years, the oldest person that ever lived in this region.

Joseph Varner's wife was Susan Herold, sister of Christopher Herold. They were the parents of four sons: John, Adam, Eli and Samuel. Their daughters were Elizabeth, Alice, Susan and Amanda. The Varner sisters seemed to have been ladies by nature, and were remarkable for their beauty, spriteliness, attractive manners and tidy housekeeping.

Elizabeth became Mrs John Holden, and lived many years at Huntersville. During the war the family refugeed to Rockbridge and never returned. She died near Lexington and is buried there in the cemetery not far from the grave of Stonewall Jackson.

William Edmiston p. 439, Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County by William T. Price (1901)

William Edmiston, in whose memory this biographic paper has been prepared, was one of the early settlers of the lower Levels. He seems to have been born and reared in upper Greenbrier, near Falling Spring, and his ancestry came from Augusta County. His wife was Rebecca Walkup, from the Falling Spring vicinity, where there are families of the name now residing. She was a sister of the late John Walkup, of Falling Spring, a greatly respected citizen and exemplary Christian man. One of her sisters was the wife of Samuel Beard, who was a brother of Josiah Beard, and his home was in Renicks Valley.

Upon his marriage with Rebecca Walkup, Mr Edmiston settled a few miles south of Hillsboro. Their family consisted of one son, James Edmiston, and four daughters, Rebecca, Jennie, Mattie, and Margaret.

James Edmiston married Margaret Woods, of Nicholas County. He settled on Cooks Dry Run, at the "Sinks," which is now known as the Peter Clark place. The names of James Edmiston's children known to the writer were Samuel, William, Christopher, and Rebecca. This daughter Rebecca became the wife of Jackson Edmiston, son of Andrew Edmiston, a brother of William Edmiston.

About 1840 James Edmiston sold his possessions to the late Andrew Johnson and migrated to Iowa, where many of his descendants now live.

Rebecca Edmiston became the second wife of Jonathan Jordan.